MEDIA ADVISORY

The opening of the first regional anti-human trafficking conference in Eastern Africa

Venue: Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda

Wednesday 20 June 2007

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Trafficking in persons affects all countries. However, post-conflict societies appear to be particularly vulnerable to this crime. As a result of war, such societies often have inefficient criminal justice systems, social conflict, violence, human rights abuses, lack of economic opportunities and large-scale population displacement. Such a volatile environment increases the vulnerability of potential trafficking victims and, at the same time, creates a conducive environment for organized criminal organizations, which seek to exploit illegal markets.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA), together with the Eastern African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) through the INTERPOL Sub-regional Bureau is organizing the first regional anti-human trafficking conference in Eastern Africa bringing together authorities from the eleven countries of the EAPCCO region. The Ugandan Government through the Ugandan National Police has offered to host the conference.

This conference is framed under the Global Initiative to Fight Trafficking in Persons (UN. GIFT). Launched in March 2007, this initiative aims to fight human trafficking by raising awareness, strengthening prevention, reducing demand, supporting and protecting victims and improving law enforcement.

Key speakers at the conference will include Mr. Jeffrey Avina, Director of Operations, UNODC, Vienna, Austria, Mr. Elisa Kabera, INTERPOL Representative, Mr. Eric Wainaina, UNODC Advocate, Ambassadors of Sweden and Norway to Uganda, Inspector General of Police, Uganda, Minister of Interior, Republic of Uganda among other important participants.